New York Knicks: Five bad contracts worth trading for with assets attached
Solomon Hill, Pelicans ($13.25 million)
Yet another salary from the disastrous 2016 offseason, the New York Knicks can pry Solomon Hill‘s expiring contract from the New Orleans Pelicans, who just remodeled their team after the Anthony Davis trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Suddenly, the Pelicans have an arsenal of picks, and if they want more payroll flexibility to redesign this team in July, shedding Hill’s contract is a logical step.
New Orleans has the Lakers’ unprotected 2024 first-round pick and potentially in 2022, pending if the 2021 selection lands in the top eight. Their own first-rounders may also move. The flexibility luxury is prevalent.
Hill makes $13.25 million and slides seamlessly into New York’s payroll. For a future first-round pick to make this happen for one season, the downside is tiny, especially if the Knicks will not compete in free agency or 2019-20.
Meanwhile, executive David Griffin uses that cap space to build a team around Zion Williamson, whoever the No. 4 pick becomes, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and Jrue Holiday. That is a talented group to make noise at the edge of the Western Conference’s playoff picture, and if free agents align with them, the Anthony Davis afterlife might not be as disastrous as other organizations when they lost their respective superstars.
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Aside from the Pelicans freeing money, Hill is a meaningless piece for New York’s roster. He is merely an end-of-the-bench presence before his salary expires in July 2020. Still, not so bad for $48 million over four years.